<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#467886;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle21
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>See Joe’s note below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Warm Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Jimmy Morris MA, NOMCT <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> NFBV-Announce <nfbv-announce-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Joe Orozco via NFBV-Announce<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 23, 2026 10:23 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'Sarah Patnaude via NFBV-Announce' <nfbv-announce@nfbnet.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBV-Announce] Project RISE: A Full Year Ahead for Blind and Low Vision Students, and How Your Chapter Can Help<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p>Hello everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p>Project RISE has an ambitious year ahead, and I want to make sure every chapter in Virginia knows what is coming and has a chance to help us reach the students who need it most.<o:p></o:p></p><p>For those less familiar with the program, Project RISE is the NFBV's career readiness and mentoring program for blind and low vision students ages 14 through 21. Our students range from high school freshmen to college seniors, from braille readers and cane travelers to students who use print and are just beginning to consider what non-visual skills might do for them. What they have in common is that they are preparing for adult life, and we believe the best people to help them get there are the blind men and women of this affiliate who have already done it.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Our 2026-2027 calendar is built around the real skills students need to live and work independently. What you will find posted so far is primarily our monthly virtual programming, along with a handful of in-person experiences. The calendar is still being built out, and we are actively planning additional in-person sessions across the state, so please check back as new events are added.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Here is a look at what is on the horizon.<o:p></o:p></p><p>This fall, students will start with transportation independence on October 7, learning to plan everything from a daily bus commute to a multi-city trip, then put those skills into practice at our NFBV State Convention in Herndon, October 22 through 25. In November, students will tackle personal branding and first impressions, and spend a full day in Staunton at Non-Visual STEM Day at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, using the NFB's own hands-on science curriculum. December brings a session on turning a bad experience into effective advocacy, followed by a holiday service project in Northern Virginia where students give back to the community.<o:p></o:p></p><p>In January, students will plan and then carry out the Winter Empowerment Seminar in Richmond, timed alongside our Legislative Seminar so they can see firsthand what it looks like to make a case to lawmakers. The spring brings sessions on comparison shopping and decision making, a hands-on financial simulation, and practical troubleshooting for when assistive technology fails at the worst possible moment. We will also be supporting students applying for the NFB National Scholarship, and the year culminates with the NFB National Convention in Austin, Texas, in July 2027.<o:p></o:p></p><p>The full calendar, with descriptions and registration links, is available here: <a href="https://nfbv.org/project-rise-program-calendar">https://nfbv.org/project-rise-program-calendar</a><o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>More than group events</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p>Group programming is only part of what we do. Project RISE also works with students one on one on specific career readiness needs, such as preparing for a job interview, building a resume, exploring a career field, planning for college, or practicing how to talk about accommodations with an employer or professor. If your chapter meets a student who could use that kind of individual attention, please connect them with us. They do not need to wait for a scheduled event to get started.<o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>How your chapter can help</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p>The single most valuable thing you can do is share this information locally. Please pass it along to teachers of blind students, school transition coordinators, parents, and any young blind or low vision person you know. A personal word from a chapter member carries far more weight than any flyer we could send.<o:p></o:p></p><p>I would also encourage chapters to think of Project RISE as a bridge. Many of our students have never met a blind adult with a career, a family, and a full life. When they meet you at a convention, a seminar, or a service project, they begin to see what is possible. Some of those students will become the next generation of chapter members and leaders, and we would love to help make those connections. If your chapter would like to invite students to a meeting, host a local activity, or volunteer as mentors, please reach out.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Thank you for everything you do to build this affiliate. Our students are better for it, and so is our movement.<o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p>With appreciation,<o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p>Joe Orozco, Program Coordinator<br>Project RISE, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<br>Phone: 703-594-9634<br>Email: <a href="mailto:rise@nfbv.org">rise@nfbv.org</a><br>Website: <a href="https://nfbv.org/rise">https://nfbv.org/rise</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>